Improvement in gas-retorts



l. WOTHEBSPOON & W. FOULIS.

' Gas Retorts. No. 145,267.

Patented Dec. 2,1873.

he. I.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES WOTHERSPOON AND WILLIAM FOULIS, OF GLASGOW, NORTH I BRITAIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN GAS-RETORTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0.145,267, dated December 2, 1873; application filed August 23, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J AMZESWOTHERSPOON, gentleman, and WILLIAM FoULIs, civil engineer, both of Glasgow, in the county of Lanark, North Britain, have invented Improved Lids or Covers for Retorts, and improvements in making the joint thereof with the retort, of which the following is a specification:

This invention has for its object to simplify the construction of the lids or covers of retorts, such as are used in gas-works, mineraloil works, and in other manufactories; and it also relates to improvements in making tight the joint between the lid or cover and the retort proper.

On the sheet of drawings hereunto appended, Figure 1 i1lustrates,in front elevation, a portion of a retort lid or cover, with the improvements constructed in accordance with our invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the retort lid or cover, showing the said improvements partly in plan and partly in horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a detailed view of part of the fastening apparatus; and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section, on a small scale, of the mouths of two retorts, and illustrates the different positions of the lid or cover A when the mouth .of the retort is shut and open, respectively. The retort lid or cover A is formed with lugs B at the outer side, and by screwed bolts 0 passed through slotted or oblong holes in the said lugs. The lid or cover A is attached loosely to a bar, D, hinged at one end to the side of the retort, as seen at E, Fig. 2.

()n turning round the pin H in the direction of the arrow,Figs. 2 and 3, by a key or wrench applied to the outer extremity thereof, the eccentric I first raises the tightening-catch F from the position shown in dotted lines at Fig. 3 into contact with the free end of the hinged bar D, and as the pin is further turned round the eccentric I draws the catch inward and causes the heel or projection a formed thereon to bear tightly upon the free end of the bar D, as shown at Fig.3, by which means the lid or cover A is pressed against the retortmouth. That portion b of the lid or cover A which bears against or is situated nearest to the retort-mouth is formed with a groove, 0, extending around it, as shown at Fig. 2, for receiving a soft, elastic, or compressible packing material, which, on the lid or cover A being finally pressed up against the mouth of the retort, takes the impression of the retort-mouth,- and, filling up any interstices or unevenness thereon,makes tight the joint between the lid or cover A and the retort-mouth. A screw,

J, is provided at the center of the bar D for the purpose of adjusting the pressure on the lid from time to time, as required. In lieu of forming the groove 0 in the lid or cover, as shown, the said groove may be formed in the retort-mouth and have the packing placed therein, or grooves for receiving the packing may be formed in both the lid or cover A and the retort-mouth. The packing placed in the groove 0, instead of consisting of twisted or compressed amianthus, as heretofore, may be of amianthus combined with one or more strands of wire, and laid into the groove for the purpose of the more securely keeping it in position.

We claim- 1. The combination, with the hinged lid A, of a catch, F, and eccentric I operating on the catch, so as to first raise the same into'contact with a projection on the lid, and-then draw the latter against the mouth of the retort, as specified.

2. The combination, with the recessed lid or retort, of a packing of amianthus, combined with and strengthened by wire, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' JAMES wornnnsroon. n s.] WILLIAM rooms. 1,. s.]

Witnesses:

EDWARD Frsnnn BAMBER, J OHN CAMPBELL MAOANDIE. 

